Some nursing homes carry out successful staff vaccine mandates amid pushback over federal rules

The Biden administration in recent weeks announced a series of new mandates that require long-term care facilities to fully vaccinate their staff against COVID-19.

The Biden administration in recent weeks has announced a series of mandates that require long-term care facilities to fully vaccinate staff against COVID-19, drawing mixed responses from providers, industry leaders and advocates, including those who said the federal policies will put extra strain on an industry already suffering a workforce shortage. But some nursing homes said they've already successfully implemented their own mandates without a significant impact on their workforces, which officials say showcases how the new federal rules can be carried out to protect vulnerable elderly residents amid yet another coronavirus surge. President Joe Biden's mandate, announced last month, directly targets nursing homes -- employees in long-term care settings must be vaccinated for those facilities to continue receiving federal Medicare and Medicaid funding. Additional White House announcements made this week could also indirectly affect nursing homes, including an upcoming Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule that would mandate private businesses with at least 100 employees require employees to either be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing. Businesses that don't comply with the agency's rule could face fees of up to $14,000. The proposed rules would also require health care facilities that receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement to have a vaccine mandate.